"If someone wanted to learn how the Beatles recorded “Strawberry Fields Forever”, it wouldn’t take them long to find out. There are tons of books out there which detail every step of the song’s birth from John’s composition of it to the even...tual recording of it at EMI Studios. Beatle scholars have no difficulty finding out every tidbit about the recording sessions. Unfortunately, one wouldn’t have the same luck if they wanted to learn about how Wings “Little Lamb Dragonfly” was recorded. There are limited resources out there for those who wish to learn about recordings sessions the Fab Four did after they split up. Luca Perasi saw the void and filled it. His book “Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013)” covers just what its title implies. The book begins with the secret 1969 recordings for the “McCartney” album and ends with entries on “New”. While the “Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium” covers similar ground, that book is almost fifteen years old and new information is always coming to life. “Recording Sessions” even corrects some material which was incorrect in “Eight Arms”. Each song gets its own entry. The entry details where and when the song was recorded, who played what instruments on it and other miscellaneous details. Luca interviewed many musicians, engineers and other industry professionals to get the story straight. In doing so he’s brought never before heard stories onto these pages. He even had Monique Seiwell (wife of Wings first drummer Denny Seiwell) consult her diary to get some recording dates and locations correctly. That’s what I call following up on leads! Tony Clark, an engineer whose name should be familiar to McCartney fans, also helped consult on the book and gives a great introduction. This isn’t a complete look at Paul’s recording career. In order to make the book’s mission statement more obtainable, only McCartney penned compositions are covered. This means that non-McCartney written songs such as Wings “Medicine Jar” (written by Jimmy McCulloch) and various cover songs aren’t represented. While their absence is notable, the wealth of information on the rest of the catalogue is more than enough to make up for it. When you’re being served a five course meal, you don’t complain that there isn’t enough bread. I’ve seen some reviews bemoan the book’s lack of pictures, but I didn’t read the book for photos. I wanted a book that would tell me the story of Paul’s post Beatle recording career, and this more than delivered. I consider myself a McCartney scholar, and I’ve read many books on his recording career. There were many times in this book that I found myself learning new pieces of information. There were some surprises and lots of interesting stories. I was very impressed with the amount of research Luca took in putting this together. This book is a must have for any Paul McCartney fans and belongs on the shelf right next to Madinger and Easter’s “Eight Arms To Hold You” and Lewisohn’s “Complete Beatles Recording Sessions”.

It's really great that you wrote this great extensive detailed book on what a true natural born *music genius* Paul McCartney was born as! He inherited his father Jim's and Jim's father's natural music talent but to a rare extreme degree!

"Essential reading for any serious Paul McCartney fan, Luca Perasi’s Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) covers everything from the McCartney album (released in 1970) right through New (released in 2013). Perasi takes us from song to song, conveying tons of detailed information. The goal was to focus on factual information rather than critical analysis. While some of the author’s opinion-based commentary slips in, he makes a genuine effort to make this a reference guide above all else. Each song includes a listing of musicians involved, as well as where and when each tune was recorded.

It’s made clear in the introduction, the scope of the book is limited to songs written by McCartney that appeared on a release credited to Paul McCartney, Wings, or The Fireman (the latter being McCartney’s experimental collaboration with producer Martin Glover, aka Youth). Any song written by someone other than McCartney is not covered (though his many co-writes with various songwriters, including Denny Laine, Eric Stewart, and Elvis Costello, are included—with the exception of re-recorded Lennon/McCartney songs). As a result, much of the content of Give My Regards to Broadstreet (1984), Run Devil Run (1999), and Kisses on the Bottom (2012) is only given a brief mention.

Examining nearly 400 individual songs is ambitious enough, but what makes Recording Sessions of particular interest are quotes taken from some 70 original, exclusive interviews the author conducted with McCartney collaborators and session players. Some of these are ,prominent participants, such as engineer Tony Clark (who contributed a foreword in the form of a poem) and former Wings members Laurence Juber, Denny Seiwell, and Steve Holley. Others are far more obscure, such as Bill Wolfer, the keyboardist who plays on the Michael Jackson collaboration “Say, Say, Say,” or Stan Sulzmann, saxophonist on the U.K.-only single “Once Upon a Long Ago.”

In other words, Perasi dug deep to unearth new stories that even the hardest of hardcore McCartney fans have not likely heard. It’s a goldmine of anecdotes that all contribute to a further understanding and appreciation of McCartney’s solo career, especially the less-often discussed obscurities. Fascinating accounts emerge, such as how McCartney so admired Clare Fischer’s work with Prince that he hired Fischer to score the orchestration for the Flowers in the Dirt ballad “Distractions” (the late Fischer’s son, Brent, was interviewed by Persasi). This may sound like minutiae, and to casual fans many of the stories may be considered insignificant. But for those who crave every detail they can get their hands on, Perasi’s research yields plenty.

Perasi also draws from a wide variety of previously published interviews, always meticulously citing his sources (including, I’m proud to say, The Morton Report—my own interview with former Wings drummer Denny Seiwell is quoted a couple times). Whether culled from previously existing writings or from his personal research, Perasi organizes the information very clearly throughout the book. The basic layout takes us from year to year, with a numbered heading for each song (indexed in the back of the book for quick reference; there’s also a short bio for every person mentioned throughout). Where appropriate, Perasi also fills in the blanks by including general info about tours, live recordings, and side projects in order to provide some continuity to McCartney’s full recording career.

Perasi sought to present the McCartney songbook in strict order of recording date, with detailed credits listing who played which instrument on every song. Without having the kind of official, all-access pass that Mark Lewisohn had to the Beatles archive for The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, some of these dates and credits remain a mystery. But Perasi did the best he could, compiling the most comprehensive annotations to date. It should also be noted that this English translation (from Perasi’s native Italian) is not without some oddities in syntax. But generally speaking, it is always clear what the author is trying to communicate. While the translation could’ve probably been smoother in places, it shouldn’t be seen as a deal-breaker for anyone interested.

Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) is an important work for anyone with a deep interest in the solo career of Paul McCartney. It is currently available for purchase on Amazon U.K. Follow author Luca Perasi on Twitter."

Please note two things to integrate Nick's comprehensive review, who received the book back in July:- Recent reprint of the book (end September) heavily improved, with corrections (suggestions courtesy of English writer Steve Lambley) and completely new layout.- Volume II is in the works and planned for 2015.

A hardbound edition is finally available.It's a strictly limited edition (200 copies), with flaps and cream-color paper. It was premiered at the Beatles Day in Mons, Belgium, last October, where I met with extreme pleasure Mark Lewisohn, who had purchased the paperback one some time before, and he liked it.

I was bought this book for Christmas,I'm up to the 'Speed Of Sound' recordings.Absolutely excellent book,mate.I had no idea that the person who wrote it was on these forums.Congratulations on a fab book,and I am extremely jealous of all of the great musicians etc you have met and interviewed who have worked with Paul,who is my absolute idol.Brilliant!!Well done Luca.

cheers

Neil Lowe,Nottingham,England,UK

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......."but tonight,i just wanna stay in,and be with you"..............

I was bought this book for Christmas,I'm up to the 'Speed Of Sound' recordings.Absolutely excellent book,mate.I had no idea that the person who wrote it was on these forums.Congratulations on a fab book,and I am extremely jealous of all of the great musicians etc you have met and interviewed who have worked with Paul,who is my absolute idol.Brilliant!!Well done Luca.

cheers

Neil Lowe,Nottingham,England,UK

Hi Neil and thanks so much, I'm delighted of what you write about the book. It was a long time dream...for years I've been searching a book about Paul recordings and...I di it myself. Being an avid historical reearcher...I collected tons of material and spent two years doing the interviews. Great fun, indeed! You'll be pleased to have a volume II later this year, with unreleased songs, classical stuff, live concerts and everything else in great detail. My publishing company, L.I.L.Y. Publishing is growing and so expect more and more quality in the products.

Hi Neil and thanks so much, I'm delighted of what you write about the book. It was a long time dream...for years I've been searching a book about Paul recordings and...I di it myself. Being an avid historical reearcher...I collected tons of material and spent two years doing the interviews. Great fun, indeed! You'll be pleased to have a volume II later this year, with unreleased songs, classical stuff, live concerts and everything else in great detail. My publishing company, L.I.L.Y. Publishing is growing and so expect more and more quality in the products.

All the best,

Luca

Nice one Luca,and I'll look forward to volume 2.I especially enjoyed reading about the 'Ram' sessions,I thought the information was really well researched,very interesting stuff about the 'Uncle Albert\Admiral Halsey' sessions.You have done a very good book and you should rightly be proud.Some nice little stories from some of the key players,well done.Let me know if you are coming to England anytime,would love to get my book signed and have a little chat in person!!!

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......."but tonight,i just wanna stay in,and be with you"..............